Woolsey secures federal transportation funds for the Novato Narrows, CNG Buses and Pedestrian routes

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) today secured $16 million toward a regional solution to North Bay traffic congestion that includes $15 million for the Novato Narrows, $500,000 for natural gas buses and $500,000 for bicycle and pedestrian routes. These funds were approved in the U.S. House version of the six year federal surface transportation reauthorization, the “Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users” (TEA-LU). This allotment is an additional $2 million for the North Bay over what the U.S. House approved in the last Congress. TEA-LU was reintroduced in the 109th Congress because a final agreement of the legislation between Republican Congressional leadership and the White House was never reached before the 108th Congress adjourned. H.R. 3 passed the House of Representatives 417-9.

“The expansion of the Novato Narrows has been a top Highway 101 priority for both Marin and Sonoma Counties,” said Rep. Woolsey. “It is the Highway 101 project that benefits the North Bay the most.”

“We are very grateful to Representative Woolsey for working so hard to get the $15 million for Highway 101 - money that we badly need,” said Paul Kelley, Sonoma County Supervisor. “Through Measure M the voters stated their desire to widen the Highway, and now Representative Woolsey has gotten the money to accomplish it.”

“Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey has always been a strong supporter of completing the work on Highway 101,” said Bob Blanchard of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. “She understands Highway 101’s importance to the local economy and how expanding the Novato Narrows is the right project at the right time.”

“But, the answer to reducing congestion doesn’t stop at road expansion,” continued Woolsey. “We must also reduce the number of cars on the roads by promoting environmentally friendly transportation alternatives.” To alleviate road congestion and improve air quality, Rep. Woolsey secured $500,000 for a Marin-Sonoma (Novato) Narrows Bicycle and Pedestrian facility to provide a safe option for walking or biking the Narrows. She also secured $500,000 to help Sonoma County continue to transition its bus fleet to clean-air, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

“Rail is another key element in our comprehensive approach to relieve congestion on Highway 101,” said Rep. Woolsey. “The Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) project, a 75-mile commuter rail corridor serving North Bay residents from Cloverdale to San Rafael, runs parallel to Highway 101. SMART will reduce traffic on Highway 101 by carrying a projected 5,000 riders per day.” In today’s legislation, Rep. Woolsey ensured that SMART is eligible for “New Starts” funding for planning, engineering and eventually construction.

Rep. Woolsey worked closely with Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Jim Oberstar (D-MN) and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) to reiterate the importance of the Golden Gate Bridge as a major traffic corridor and valued national landmark. To ensure that the Golden Gate Bridge received special consideration separate from personal Members’ allotments, $60 million was set aside in bridge discretionary funds for the seismic retrofit of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Rep. Woolsey will continue to work with her Bay Area colleagues to secure annual appropriations to complete the retrofit, and worked with Leader Pelosi (D-San Francisco) to secure an additional $10 million for the Golden Gate Seismic Retrofit project.

Rep. Woolsey has brought home over $100 million in the past six years to improve transportation in California’s 6th Congressional District. TEA-LU reauthorizes the federal highway, public transportation, highway safety, and motor carrier safety programs for six years, from fiscal years 2004 through 2009. The legislation provides a total of $283.9 billion in funding - a 42%increase over the previous federal transportation bill “TEA-21” (1998-2003).

The $16 million for transportation projects in Marin and Sonoma counties and the $70 million for the Golden Gate Bridge were included in the U.S. House version of TEA-LU. After the Senate version of the federal transportation bill is passed, the two bills will be reconciled in conference committee before a final version is approved.